System of automatic speed control.



G P/FINNIGAN.

SYSTEM OF AUTOMATIC SEEgDCONTHOL. APPLICATTON FILED own, 1914.

1,802,346; Patented Apr. 29,1919.

2 SHEETSQSHEET I.

To E's-servo ir IB'IVJENTOH WITNESSES BY (ZWAZ Q4 Q0 7dA 4MM i ATroRNEY e. P. .FINNIGAN. SYSTEM OF AUTOMATIC SPEED CONTROL.

APPLTCATTON HLED DEC. 29, 1914- Pa'tented Apr. 29,1919.

uNyEN-ron WITNESSES If; Awomuey in plan, taken on the line K 3i of Fig. 1

GEORGE E. FINNIGAN, 03E WILTON-GN-J'AlVIES, NEAR RICHMOND, VIRGINIA.

SYSTEM OF AUTOMATIC SEPJEEID CQNTBUL.

eoaaae.

Specification of Letters latent. Patented Apr, 29, 19319.

Application filed December 29, 1914. Serial No. 879.431.

To all whom H may concern:

lie it known that l. (lnonan l l l'xxiinvx,

ing train or vehicle as by automatically applying the brakes thereto when thc'speed exceeds a predeterimncd innit; and automatically releasing the brakes when the vehiele or train speed diminishes toa predet rmined value.

In one of the torms my invention maytake the air brakes are so autouiatically'applied and later released. the control being effected by an elcctro-magnetically controlled valve which in turn controls brake setting: and releasing valve mechanism.

My invention resides also in means, assoiated with the system of the character above referred to. for giving visual, audible or other indications to the vehicle driver that his vehicle or train has :mproached or exceeded a predetermined speed limit.

ln a system of. the character described. the eleetro-magneticcontrol may be efleetcd entirely by unans upon the moving train or vehicle; or it may be cflected by means upon the vehicle cooperating with means disposed along the path of travel of the train or vehicle.

1* or an' i1lnstration of some of many em bodiments of my invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a'diagrannnatic view of electric circuit connections and arrangements together fwith a vertical sectional view through elcetro-lnagnctic controlling means and associated valvemechanism. Y

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional .view'.'pa1 ts Fig. 3 shows a modified form my invention may take.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view; partly in plan,

taken on the line Y--Y of Fig. 3.

Upon the moving; train or vehicle is disposed a cylinder C with which connects a. pipe l which communicates with the air reservoir oi the usual air braking system,

. packing ring 3?.

air being confined in said reservoir under pressure. And with the cylinder C communicates a pipe '1 forming a branch of or a continuation of the usual train pipe. which norn'ially contains air at reservoir pressure, and exhaustion of which from the train pipe T causes the setting of the bakes in the well known mannerl The whistle W also communicates with the cylinder through the pipe Movable longitudinally -within the cylinder (1 is the piston valve V having-the shank or body o carrying the piston heads a and 7), each of which may be. provided with the Between the piston heads a and Z) is disposed the vertically extending'valve member (1 carryinga bow spring- (Z engaging in a vertically extending slot (1 in the valve shank or body o. lhe spring d therefore presses the valve member 0 against its seat. which is the interior surface of the cylinder C. Within the valve member c is the passage 7' terminating in the ports 0 and 71, which in the position shown communicates respectively with the interior of the pipes l? and 13.. whereby equality of pressure between the ordinary main reservoir and the interior of the train pipe T is attained, with the result that the brakes are not applied. The member 0, it will be noted. is somewhat shorter than the distance be tween the heads a. and I) with the result that there may be lost motion between the member 0 and the valve V. Above the pipe l the wall of the cylinder C is cut away to form a port or passage j which allows conimunieation from the pipe P to the interior of the cylinder C above the head a. This port orpassage j is of restricted area, but nevertheless allows, in. time, equality in presre it n the pipe P and the space Withinthe cylinder C above the head a. This pressure is exerted upon the ball valve B which the air pressure assists in holding" against its seats a separated by recessesand disposed around the port 71: communicating with the passage m which communicates, with the outer atmosphere. The seats 8 are ground to abcurately fit the ball B, which accordingly tightly closes the port is and normally prevents escape of the air from I within the cylinder O through the passage 'm. These seats 8 are formed on a pole of the iron or other magnetizable core l) of an electroonagnet whose Winding is E and,

whicl may the outer atmosphere is through the pas Below the hall ll is supported within the cylinder C a plate or bracket 1 having the ample air passages r and carrying the hall receiving; arms 5 which, in the normal posi tion shown, are only slightly below the ball 8,

' ociated with the electr c-magnet is the permanent magnet l, one of whose poles cooperates with the jacket and Whose other pole cooperates with the core D, suitable adjust]; g'netic shunting pieces it being associated with magnet M so that by their adjustment to and away from each other they may increase or decrease the n'uignetism set up in the core l and jacket l by the permanent magnet Ma y The electro-niagnet winding E is connected in circuit by conductors l and 2 with the adjustable resistance R, battery or other source of direct current S, the generator G alternation fluctuating or direct current, and the parallel connected branches, one of which includes the adjustable inductive resistance i'and the indicator as an incandescent electric lamp i and the other branch including the indicator or incandescent elec* tric lamp ll)" in shunt with which. may be connected; if desired, a voltmeter or other indicating instrument l. The rotary element of generator G is driven in definite relation with a vehicle wheel and therefore the north pole of iuagent Ill: is the one associated with the core and the south pole of the permanent magnet; M is associated with the jacket l l rom this it will be iiiderstoml that the magneto-motive 't'orcc evelepcd by the magnet is opposed to 1e niagnctouiiotivc force developed by the con la.

loll ows vehicle is at rest or traveling at a rate of speed below a predetermined limit the magnetism prodiuved bv the winding l); only'partially opposed by the per! :ancnt ina 'nct and assisted by of opuuifrdly upon the o be up; that of the. ip mpg/Sm.

' the h i its ball such air in the resort uances normal position shown against the seats 8,

thus closing the passage m. The air pressure itself is not sufiicient to hold the ball in thisvposition. The ball B being in its norn'lal. position against the seats, the piston valve V will be in its normal position shown with the train pipe T in communication with the reservoir through pipe P, and the space above the piston head a is also in communication with the reservoir through restricted passage or port j and the pipe P.

Should the speed of the train, however, increase beyond a predetern'lined limit, the

frequency of. the alternating current delivi ered by generator G Will increase, as will also itsvoltage, and one-half wave of each cycle of alternating current will operate cumulatively with the battery S, while the other half Wave Will oppose the battery S, with the result that in the vehicle circuit there will be a fluctuating current which. at low speeds, will have small amplitude of fluctuation and variation, and will not reach or approximate at any time zero current. But as the vehicle speed increases the fluctuations of the current in the vehicle circuit will increase in amplitude, and during the existence of a half wave opposing: the battery S Will approximate, reach or pass below zero value, with the result that elcctro-magnet E will be so greatly weakened that it) can no longer hold the ball B with the assistance of the air pressure in its normal position and the ball will accordingly drop a short distance to the arms ton the bracket 9. The permanent magnet M insures the dropping away of theball B and prevents its being held by remanent or residual magnetisnn When the ball B drops the short distance to the arms 25, the port is is uncovered and the air under pressure in the cylinder C above the piston (t escapes to atmosphere through the passage m' at a rate, depending on the size of the passage m as compared to the restricted passage j which allows the pressure Within the cylinder (7 above the piston a to all quite rapidly and to quite low valve, notwithstanding the continued connection through restricted passage j with the reservoir pipe P. And since the space be tween the piston heacs a and Z) is in communication with the interior of the train pipe T, which is under reservoir pressure throught port it, passage f and port 9, and thearca of the lower face of the piston a is greater than the area of the upper face of the piston 75 this pressure on the under side of the valve head a will. exceed the total pressure upon the upper side the head a; with the result that the piston V will rise, and in so doing will soon cause the lower head F) to engage the lower end of the member c and carry it nprrardrn until the upper J surface of the head i) the upper edge Laces is train pipe 'l, and the valve member 0 has been raised to such position that the port it is above the port of the pipe 'l, with result that the pipe 'l is cut oil from the reservoir pipc l, and the air under pressure within the train pipe 'l exhausts into the cylinder (1 below the head Z) and thence out through pipe to through the whistle W, Which is blown by the air so exhausting from the pipe T, the lower face of the valve head I) having risen above the opening of the pipe w into the cylinder C and, as well understood in the art of air braking, this exhaustion of the air from the pipe '1 causes an'application of the air brakes to the wheels of the train or vehicle, with the result that the vehicle speed is reduced, with resultant reduction in fre quency and potential of the generator G. Then the brakes have been applied for a period sufiicient to reduce the vehicle speed below a predetermined limit, the voltage and frequency of the generator G will have fallen to such value that the current from the source S through the winding 'l l will produce magnetism ol sutlicient strength to again pick up the ball B which has been separated only a very slight distance from the poles. The moment the ball B has been restored to its seat, the port Z: is closed and the pressure below the ball B begins to rise, due to the contiiuued communication with the reservoir pipe P through the restricted passage 5). The air pressure accordingly gradually rises in the upper end of the cylinder (l and eventually the pressure on the upper surface at the head c will reach such value that the valve V will descend and finally restore the parts to the position illustrated, the communication of the pipe T with the pipe l through the valve member c insuring lifting or releasing of the brakes.

Where the generator G produces fluctuating' or alternating clcctro-nmtivc force, as assumed above. the lamp l4 0t i.'elatively low resistance, will always glow under the efi'ccts of the resultantof the electro-motive Forces of the generator G and battery S. lud accordingly, this lamp may be agreen lamp for indicating that the vehicle circuit is intact and operative. As the speed of the vehicle increases, however. the frequency of the fluctuating: or altcrnating electro-motive lOl'uG, delivered by generator G increases,

and since there is inductive resistance i in the. branch circuit including:' the lamp Ly, the current through the lamp l Will tend to remain constant, with corresponding substantial constancy in brilliancy of lamp Lg, or, at least, the current tl ouggh the lamp Lg will increase at relati low atc with increasing vehicle speed. at in the case of the lamp Lr, which is preferably of high resistance 'as compared with the resistance of the lamp Lg, and being in a substantially non-inductive branch in shunt to the inductive resistance 17 and lamp Lg or in shunt to inductive resistance '1' only, with increasing vehicle speeds and consequent increasing: frequency and elcctro-motive force. of the generator (1 will begin to glow and will become brighter and brighter as the vehicle speed approaches or roaches thev predetermined limit. For this purpose the lamp L) may be a red lamp. for cxampleand as it glows brighter and brighter will indicate to the engineman or driver that he is approaching the speed limit. In parallel with the lamp Lr may he the indicator or voltmeter I which will form another visual indicator,

of the speed conditions. i

When the generator G produces direct current, its electro-n'iotive force will be opposed to that of the source S and as the vehicle speial'rem-hes the ncdetermined limit will oppose the source S to such extent that the magnetism produced by the Winding R will be so small that it Will no longer be able, with the assistance of the air pressure, to retain the ball '13, which will then drop a short distance to the arms f, whereupon the brakes will he set as before described. And when the vehicle speed has diminished suitably, the valve V will again return to normal position and release the brakes, and at such lower speed the opposing electro-motive force produced by the generator G will he insuflicient to prevent the source S from passing current 0t sufiicient magnitude through the winding E to attract ball B to its normal position. which occurs. of course, before the descent oi the valve V. I

The generator (i may be a dynamo-electric generator whose moving" element is geared to or attached to some rotating element of the train. as, forrxample, a locomotive or car wheel.

ill; will be understood, however, that the generator ll may be omitted and that it may be replaced by a coil or coils carried by the train or vehicle and influenced by induction by means located in the path of travel of the vehicle or train. as in Fig. 3.

ln the modification illustrated in Figs, 3 and 4, like reference characters refer to like parts in Figs. 1 and 2.

The cylinder C is closed at its upper end by the head a having the port If and the ball seat 0 in which, under normal conditions, the ball B, which in this case may be of non-magnetic material, rests and closes the port 6 which communicates with the space above the piston which is subjected to Above the ball B is the armature disk or plate d having the ball seat 0 Conical springs f and y' engage the top of the ball Bfianol the armature d at which the 4 reoaaae respectively, and are adjustable by the screws 0 The armature (Z is adapted for vertical movement within the cylinder 9 through whose end extend the adjustable screws IE engaging loosely in holes in armature al these screws or pins serving as armature guides. Through the wall or" cylinder g e:; tend the ports or passages in either or both of which may be provided with means for adjusting or regulating their opening or area.

Embracing the upper end of the cylinder C are the two pole pieces m and it, of any suitable shape, but here illustrated as some what less than a semi-circle in extent, as seen from Fig. 4. Magnetically connecting with these pole pieces are the electro-niagnet cores 0 and 39 respectively, a ring shaped yoke or back armature g being associated therewith.

The pole pieces of and a may he held in suitable position on the cylinder C by any suitable means, and they may he screw threaded to receive the screw threaded cylinder g which may be turned by a wrench engaging the nut r cast thereon.

The cylinder 9 and the head a are preferably of non-magnetic material. as is also the cylinder C.

On the electro-magnet cores 0 and p are disposed the elcctro-magnet windings ll connected in circuit with devices similar to those described in connection with Fig". 1.

Communicating with the interior of the cylinder C, above the piston, is a safety valve I or pop valve 8 which prevents rise in pressure above a predetermined limit.

The lower cylinder head is provided with a vent or passage 6 In, the pipe 20 is connected an adjustable valve a for adj ustahly determining the rate pressure within the train pipe T is reduced.

The circuit is similar to that described in connection with Fig. 1, except that the generator G, of Fig. 1, is supplanted by the wheel coils 22 loosely enveloping the vehicle wheels w of para-magnetic material, iron or steel, connected by the axle m which may he 01" similar material, the wheels e0 traveling upon the usual iron' or stecl'rails 1 across which may extend the member 2 of paramagnetic material, such as soft iron or steel, or which may he a permanent mag net laminated as illustrated. The soft iron or steel cores at fc rm a joint of low magnetic reluetancewith the rails 9 and with the member 2 and are surrounded by the coils b which may be connected in any suitable circuit.

It will be understood, however, that in place of the coils c and the associated parts described, a. generator such as G of Fig. 1-

may be used,

The operationis as follows:

lVhcn the train or vehicle is at rest, or traveling at a rate cl? speed below prone tcrniined limit. the normally energised electro-Inagnet will exert an attractive force downwardly upon the armature d, which attractive force is assisted by the weight 0 the armature and the pressure of the springs f and j to hold said ball snugly against its seat c closing the port 6 against the reservoir pressure within the cylinder C above the piston. This pressure and the area of the port 7/ are such that the forces referred to are sullicicnt to holdthe hall B in its normal position described; and the re liet valve s PI'GVHll'S rise in pressure sufli cient to lift the ball in opposition to those :t'orces.

Should the speed of the train exceed a predetermined limit when pas ing the memher .2 in its path of travel, rate of change of magnetic flux through the coils n will be such that an electro-inotive-force will be generated therein of a. magnitude and direction such as to reduce the strength.

of the current through the magnet windings l) to such degree, with corresponding reduc tion of magnetic attraction upon armature al that the air pressure beneath the hall 13 is sullicient to raise'it allowing air to escape through the port and through the lower port lc and leakage past or through disk (5 through the upper port 7*. This flow of air through the port I), once instituted as described, will prevent the hall, B from. inn'uediately returning to its seat 0 even if the electro-inagnet E shall. have returned to normal degree of energization.

The air so passing through port 5 exerts pressure on. member d which, acting as a loosely fitting piston in cylinder 9 rises in opposition to springs and fl.

The pressure being now reduced above the piston valve in cylinder C it will rise, as de scribed in connection with Fig. 1, and move upwardly with it the valve cutting oil connnunication between the train pipe T and the reservoir P, and when the lower piston head 5 has risen. above the lower edge of the port of train pipe T the trainv pipe T .ll exhaust through the cylinder C and pipe '20, valve u and the whistle il to atmosphere,

' reduction of train pipe pressure resulting in application of the hralres.

In the meantime air at reservoir passes throurlrlhe port j but. the port j being more restricted than the l3 and Z2, theprcssure above the piston valve will become gradually reduced and the member I, will then return the ball to its scat ,1110 electro-inagnet assistin in returning the member (Z it being rcmei'nbered that the clcctro-nlaguct E has only for a short time reduced in strength due to the inductive in tluc-nccuponitscircuit. lvhcntheball rcall the drain pipe l? will accordingly result in automatic release of the brakes.

Notwithstandingthe fact that the inductive cl'l'cct on the circuit may he transient or of short duration. the application and release of the brakes are gradual, and the parts occupy sutlicient time in the brake setting or applying action to cause suitable or desired reduction of vehicle speed.

It will be understood that one or both of the lamps la" and Lg and inductance 2' may be omitted when the circuit is inductively influenced as described in connection with Fig. 3. But when a generator (l. particu larl y when delivering fluctuating or alternating current used as in Fig. l in place of the coils 11, these lamps and their associated parts may be used as described in connection with llig. l.

it will be understood as to both Figs. 1 and 3 that in place of Wheel coils if, a coil surroimdingthe axle m may be used, or both wheel and axle coils connected in series may be used.

It will accordingly be understood that such coil or coils, supplanting the generator G, may be such as C or A of any of the figures of my prior application Serial Number 850,075, filed July 10, 1914:. In other words. it will be understood that any of the vehicle circuits of my said prior application may include as a translating device, the electro-magnetic means herein illustrated as controlling the ball l? or ball B And. it will accordingly be understood that the magnetism of the pcrn'ianent or eleotro-magnet or magnets in the trackway may be controlled in response to trallic conditions of certain blocks so that the ball B or B will respond to even low vehicle speed it" the vehicle is driven into a danger zone or an occupied. block as well as in the use where it exceeds its predetermined speed limit, and in doing passes over a track magnet or para-magnetic bar -which induces in the vehicle circuit an. electro-motivc 't'orce sutficient to cause the ball B or B to respond.

Then, in either case, whether the ball B or B responds to an occupied or danger condition (it a. block or zone or responds to excessive speed, the air loraires will be applied automatically and Will continue in application until the vehicle speed is sufficiently reduced.

And in this connection it will be understood that there may be in addition to any at the vehicle circuits of my said prior aplication an additional. vehicle circuit of the are character of either herein illustrated and described. so that not only will the brakes be automatically applied and released. under the conditions herein described, but the. brakes may be set, as by the arrangements of my said prior application. to bring the vehicle completely to rest. as therein described.

Or either of the vehicle circuits herein described may he combined with any of the vehicle circuits of my prior application. that is, any of the vehicle circuits of my said prior application may include, in addition to the devices described in said application, the additional translating device and lamp and other indicators herein described.

lt will be noted that the vehicle circuits herein described are closed and normally and continuously energized from the source S. with the. result that should there be any break in the vehicle circuit the ball B or B ill respond, and in case generator (ir is employed both of the lamps will be extinguished, and with both forms of my invention the brakes will be applied and will not be automatically released. because the ball ll or B will in such case not be restored to its normal indicated position. in other words, a failure of the. vehicle circuit is a "failure on the side of safety in that the vehicle will be braked and stopped and cannot be re-started until the vehicle circuit is again intact.

Where the generator (l produces fluctuating 01 alternating electro-motiveforce, the ball B, of iron or steel or other ma gnetizable material. may have a plating or coating oi copper, silver, or other conductor of low re.- sistivit v with the result that in such coating there will be produced. due to the fluctuating magnetism. eddy currents which Will increase as the speed of the train and frequency of the generator G increases. These eddy currents assist in insuring that the ball ll will drop. And such coating also serves the purpose of reducing the tendency of the ball 13 to stick to the magnetic poles. due to residual or reinanent magnetism.

What I claim is:

1. The combination with a vehicle, of an air brake system thereon, valve mechanism held in normal position by pressure exerted on opposite sides having different areas a member having a port communicating with a region of diflerent pressure and with the space adjacent one of said sides, an armature member normally. closing said port, magnetic means holding said armature in port closing position, means causing release of said armature member by said magnetic means at predetermined vehicle speed, Whereby said port is opened and said valve mechanism causes application of the brakes, said magnetic means restoring said armature member to normal position in response to resultant change in vehicle speed, whereby said port is closed and said valve mechanism causes release of said brakes.

2. The combination with a vehicle. oi an air brake system thereon, valve mechanism controlling said air brake system and held in normal position by pressure acting on opposite sides having different: areas. a inem her having a port communicating with the space adjacent one of said sides and with a region oi different pressure. an armature member normally closing said port. mag!- netic means and pressure exerted on said armature member holding" the same in normal port closing position. means causing release of said armature member at predetermined vehicle speed. whereby said port is opened and said valve mechanism is moved to cause application of the brakes. said armature member being restored to normal port closing position in response to resultant change in vehicle speed. whereby said valve mechanism returns to normal position and releases said brakes.

3. The combination with a vehicle. of an air brake system thereon, valve mechanism controlling said system and held in normal position by pressure acting on opposite sides having different areas. a member having a port communicating with a space adjacent one of said sides and with a region of different pressure. an armature. member normally closing said port. an electro-inagnet holding said armature member in normal position, at circuit includingsaid elcctro magnet. a source of unidirectional current and a generator of fluctuating or alternatiim current whose speed is dependent upon the speed oi said vehicle; said magnet releasing" said armature member at predetermined vehicle speed, whereby said port is uncovered and said valve mechanism moves and causes application of the brakes, said armature member being restored to normal position in response to resultant change in vehicle speed, whereby said port is closed and said valve mechanism returns to normal position to release said brakes.

The combination with a vehicle, of an air brake system thereon, valve mechanism controlling said air bral ze s stem to apply and release the brakes, electro-responsive means controlling; said valve mechanism. a circuit controlling said electro-reeponsive means incl ndin; an alternating current generator whose speed is de 'iendent upon the speed o'l said vehicle. lamps connected in parallel with each other subjected. to the effects of said generator. one o'i said lamps glowing at all vehicle speeds. and another of said lamps glowing at all vehicle sptetls above a predetermined. speed.

5. The combination with a vehicle. in an air brake system thereon. valve mechanism controlling said system and held in normal position by pressure acting on opposite side having dilierent areas. a member havinga port communicating with the space adjacent one of said sides and with a chamber. a member in said chamber normally closin said port. an armature member resting on said first named member. magnetic means cooperating with said armature. means con trolling said magnetic means in response to predetermined vehicle speed to release said armature. wherebv nressurc li'l'ls said meur her to open said port whereby pressure on said one side is reduced and whereby said valve mechanism moves and causes applica tion oi the brakes. said member returning: to normal port closing;- position after predetermined reduction of said pressure. whereby said Valve mechanism returns to normal position and causes release of said brakes.

In testimony whereof atiixed my signature in the subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE have hereunto presence oi? the Witnesses A. lvhinsrr, E. A. Lynne. 

